Chief of Bulgaria's Largest Customs Office Accused of Taking Bribe

The chief of the Svilengrad Customs Office Todor Karaivanov, who was detained in a special operation on Wednesday, has been charged with taking a bribe.

The lawsuit has been allocated for investigation by the specialized unit on tackling corruption, which had been created between Sofia City's Prosecutor Office and the State Agency for National Security (DANS).

The operation of DANS continues at the moment and it is expected that further arrests are to be carried out, daily Dnevnik reports.

Karaivanov, who accepted two bribes on Wednesday, was arrested in the moment when he was handed the second sum of EUR 600.

After a search was carried out in his office, the authorities found BGN 600, the sum of the bribe he had taken earlier on Wednesday, as well another EUR 12 000.

Following a search in the home of Karaivanov, the authorities found BGN 6000 in his outer clothing and three sacks with customs documents (both originals and copies).

Searches have been carried out at the premises of Svilengrad Customs Office as well as in the homes of officials who are suspected in taking bribes.

The Customs Agency had not been informed of the operation.

A couple of days ago Karaivanov was awarded personally by the Customs Agency Director Vanyo Tanov for good service  on the occasion of the International Customs Day.

Karaivanov was reinstated as the head of the Svilengrad Customs Office in November 2014.

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